The board said it meets twice a year to consider petitions to add new conditions that qualify for the palliative use of marijuana in Connecticut.

After the hearings, the board gives a recommendation to the Department of Consumer Protection. If agreed to, the additions will go through a regulation process, which includes public comment and a review by a legislative committee.

State officials said there are 18,198 medical marijuana patients in the state. There are 693 physicians registered to certify patients.